The Story of the Sea Turtle who Banned Straws

Straw waste accounts for 10% of all ocean plastic (their shape and size miss sewage filters – one clean-up on US shorelines found 7.5 million plastic straws). Then marine creatures are injured by sharp edges.

My Life with Sea Turtles is the autobiography of the marine biologist who was behind the famed viral video, when she and others removed a foreign object from a turtle (they initially thought it was a tube worm).

It’s quite shocking to watch, but the turtle was okay and released back to the sea. Hopefully never to come across a straw again.

We are not going to fix the world, by phasing out plastic straws. We never aimed so small. It was like a stone that fell into the water, and created little ripples that became waves. This really horrible thing inspired many people, and sparked something good. Christine Figgener

Unless you have a medical condition that requires one, you don’t need drinking straws (you could use your lips?) But as billions are used worldwide, it makes sense to look at reusable alternatives.

Don’t give straws to babies (as for pets, they are choking hazards). Open cups let babies develop facial muscles for speech/eating.

Which countries have banned plastic straws?

Not many, the majority of countries worldwide still allow them. In the US, there is no federal ban, but some states (like Florida and California) have brought in bans. President Trump has not only reversed a ban on plastic straws, but ordered all federal departments to not use paper ones, presumably to support the oil industry (plastic is made from oil).

A few years back, McDonald’s replaced plastic straws (but not plastic lids, which rather defeats the point) on their McFlurry’s. Which led to a petition of over 50,000 people demanding they be returned, as the paper ones ‘went soggy’. Then it was found that the new paper straws could not be recycled, so they had to go back and redesign them. We have a long way to go.